Denis Pushilyn: Poroshenko is not our President, we did not elect him

Ukraine's new presidentattended a ceremony in central Kiev on Saturday after taking the oath of office at Ukraine's parliament in the morning.

Petro Poroshenko was greeted by an honour guard at St Sophia Square in the capital as crowds waved national flags and cheered for their new leader.

The 48-year-old Poroshenko replaces an interim leader who had been in office since Russia-friendly president Viktor Yanukovych fled the country in February.

Poroshenko assumed power a day after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin at D-Day commemoration ceremonies in France.

A senior official of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic said on Saturday that any chance of talks with Ukraine's president were unrealistic after the newly appointed leader said he would visit the area in search of a peaceful solution.

Denis Pushilyn, the chairman of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic's Supreme Council said talks could only happen after the withdrawal of Ukraine's security forces from the country's eastern region.

"After they withdraw military forces from our territory, after we exchange hostages and prisoners of war from both sides... then maybe a dialogue with Poroshenko will be possible," Pushilyn said minutes after the president's inauguration speech.

He also warned the Poroshenko against visiting the area and there were those who would "tear him to pieces" if he did.

"Poroshenko is definitely not our president," he added. "We did not elect him."